Pointing vs Artichoke
Pointing (Farrow & Ball) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Pointing reads as beige, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 67-point LRV gap — 88 for Pointing vs 21 for Artichoke — means Pointing will open up a space more effectively. Where Pointing leans warm, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 42.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Pointing vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Pointing and Artichoke in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Pointing reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Pointing returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Pointing returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Pointing vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pointing on one side and Artichoke on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Pointing comparisons
See how Pointing stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 5-point LRV gap (88 vs 83) makes Pointing the marginally brighter of the two.
Pointing reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Pointing reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Pointing reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 88 vs 58, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 27, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
Pointing reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 88 vs 55, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 44, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
Pointing reads slightly lighter (LRV 88 vs 84), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 88 vs 66, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 74, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 12, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 8, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 68, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 12, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 88 vs 45, Pointing is decisively the brighter choice.
Pointing reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Pointing reflects far more light (LRV 88 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.